CHARGERS OFFENSE VS. BROWNS DEFENSE

One month into his 15th NFL season, Philip Rivers is off to what may be the best start of his career. The Chargers’ 7-time Pro Bowler is completing better than 70 percent of his passes, with a career-low interception rate of 1.1 percent and a career-high touchdown rate of 7.5 percent. Needless to say, he’s been one of the league’s best at the position through five weeks. The Browns were once a doormat for great quarterbacks, but no longer. Cleveland leads the NFL in takeaways, as quarterbacks have completed just 58 percent of their passes against the Browns. Some of that has to do with the pass rush. For the Chargers, the prospect of Myles Garrett lining up against an undrafted rookie at right tackle – a possibility, if the starting tackles can’t go – should rightfully be horrifying. But the Chargers offense has been so multi-faceted this season, it may not matter. Rivers has been so efficient in large part because his run game, anchored by Melvin Gordon, has been largely unstoppable. Expect the Chargers to gash the vulnerable middle of the Browns defense, opening things up for Rivers and Co. downfield. EDGE: Chargers

BROWNS OFFENSE VS. CHARGERS DEFENSE

Through 2 1/2 weeks as the Browns’ quarterback savior, Baker Mayfield has energized a franchise and been a revelation, at times, but he’s also turned the ball over six times and taken eight sacks. He still has plenty to learn, and against a Chargers defense that’s realizing its pass rush potential without Joey Bosa, Mayfield’s decision making will be under the microscope on Sunday. The Browns would be wise to lean on the run game, which leads the NFL at 723 yards through five weeks. The Chargers are sure to bring as much heat as possible, with rookie safety Derwin James playing a big role in that regard. If Mayfield can get the ball out, he’ll have to cross his fingers that his receivers can reel it in. The Browns have been ravaged by drops this season, and this week, they’ll match up with Chargers defensive backs who finally seemed to figure it out a week ago. EDGE: Even

SPECIAL TEAMS

If not for the fact that his game-winning knuckleball kick went through the uprights, Greg Joseph may no longer be the Browns kicker. After missing a field goal and an extra point, Joseph looked out of sorts – which, it just so happens, is the best way to describe Cleveland’s special teams this season. The Browns rank dead last in special teams DVOA. Just above them? The Chargers, who are taking a wait-and-see approach to the availability of kicker Caleb Sturgis (quad injury) for this game. Anthony Lynn hoped cutting his punter a week ago would help with holding field goals, but last week, Sturgis missed another extra point and field goal, anyway. These are the two worst special teams units in the league, by a pretty wide margin. EDGE: Even

COACHING

Gus Bradley seems to finally have adjusted his Chargers defense to life without Bosa, and this week, his plan to stop Mayfield and the Browns offense will be central to the Chargers’ success on Sunday. In Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley, he’ll have quite a chess match to navigate. The same could be said for the other side of the ball where Ken Whisenhunt, whose offense has been surging so far, will face Gregg Williams, whose blitz-happy – and very multiple – defensive scheme is always difficult to match up against. As for the head coaches in this one, well … both Hue Jackson and Anthony Lynn have had their bumps. Only one of them lost 31 of 32 games to start his tenure, though. EDGE: Chargers

INTANGIBLES

Cleveland has a Rally Possum. That’s really all you need to know, isn’t it? Since Mayfield ascended to QB1, the energy around the Browns has been electric. People actually enjoy watching them! And when Cleveland is behind a team, it’s not exactly an easy place to win. Throw in Mayfield’s confident playing style, and it’ll be tough for the Chargers to match the Browns swagger in this one. EDGE: Browns

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett vs. Chargers offensive line. The former No. 1 overall pick has looked, predictably, like a force to be reckoned with in his second season. With five sacks in five weeks, Garrett is playing like one of the league’s best defensive players. If Russell Okung and/or Joe Barksdale are unable to go, the Browns will no doubt match Garrett against reserves Sam Tevi or Trent Scott. Not exactly an ideal scenario.

PREDICTION

Chargers 23, Browns, 20

The Browns have one of the league’s most talented defenses, and with Mayfield at the helm of the offense, there will be plenty of energy in the building. But Rivers and the Chargers offense is surging, and with the potential return of both starting offensive tackles, it should only get better this week. However, anxious fans should be wary of this game. Considering the disaster both of these teams have been on special teams, it has serious late-game-gaffe potential.

Ryan Kartje is a sports features reporter, with a special focus on the NFL and college sports. He has worked for the Orange County Register since 2012, when he was hired as UCLA beat writer. His enterprise work on the rise and fall of the daily fantasy sports industry (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/industry-689093-fantasy-daily.html) was honored in 2015 with an Associated Press Sports Editors’ enterprise award in the highest circulation category. His writing has also been honored by the Football Writers Association of America and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Ryan worked for the Bloomington (Ind.) Herald-Times and Fox Sports Wisconsin, before moving out west to live by the beach and eat copious amounts of burritos.